Bundesliga clubs with record €2 billion turnover

The 18 Bundesliga clubs recorded a post tax income of €55m and a total revenue increase of over 7% from last season. Wages are declining and more is invested into youth development. However, the biggest concern is the third division.

The Bundesliga continues to boom and has recorded a record turnover for the 2011/12 season of €2.08 billion. The turnover increased by 7.2% compared to 2010/11 (€1.94 billion). The revenue of the clubs is distributed in three pillars: advertising (€553 million), media (€546 million) and ticket sales (€440 million). The clubs made a profit of €55 million after deducting income taxes.

The main expenditure are wages which dropped to 37.8 % of all costs. DFL chief executive Christian Seifert said: “Decreased wages is an absolutely unusual development and can’t be found in any other European league.” Across the European leagues, wages count for an average of around 64% of all expenditures.

Another notable figure: For the first time, 1. and 2. Bundesliga clubs have invested more than €100 million in youth centres. These are mandatory since 2001 and more than €713 million have been invested in youth development. Germany’s second division also boasted an improvement of 7.4 per cent with a turnover record of €384.5m.

Main worry is third division

Despite all the good news, the main worry of the Bundesliga is the third division where many clubs have financial problems. The new TV deal increased the gap between the second and third divisions said Seifert. Alemannia Aachen was the last club that had to go into administration after being relegated from the second division.